Industry leaders say other cities trying to attract Vegas' trade shows

That was the message delivered to the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee — and it didn't come entirely from local industry representatives.

Trade show managers from the Consumer Electronics Association, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, UBM-Advanstar, the National Association of Broadcasters, the Specialty Marketing Association and the International Council of Shopping Centers addressed the 11-member committee appointed by Gov. Brian Sandoval to develop a strategy to keep the Southern Nevada tourism economy thriving.

The committee conducted its third of five fact-finding sessions prior to making decisions about solutions and priorities next year.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority also received its first pushback from the resort industry on its planned $2.3 billion Convention Center District improvement program.

Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, told the committee that the loss of a 50,000-delegate convention would represent a $51 million economic impact hit to the community. The trade-show representatives were brutally candid about their assessment of Las Vegas' position.